The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-16
MATTERS OF MOMENT.
Some Important Events From
Various Quarters.
Twenty Lives Lost on a Burning
Steamer in Alabama.

The steamer ". a. Gardner, one Of the
largest boats plying on tho Tombigbee River
from Mobile, was burned the other afternoon
three miles below Gainesville, Sumter coun-
ty, Ala. Captain F. s. Stone telegraphed
that the boat was total loss, together with
AGA bales of cotton. The loss Of life was very
large, as follows:
S. c. Blackman, julie Rembert and two
dren, Theodore l.. Graham, G.. Rutes and the
following colored persons: John Bryant,
steward; Green Jenkins, Henry Ford, Hay
Amos Harris, and three unknown.
Mis-. Rembert was the wife of the clerk and
part owner Of the boat, and lived in Mobile.
The remaining whites were passengers
yas as rbe In ssnslp sss pP PUmegSss bS ss
ago for the Tombigbee trade. She was owned
BY F. s. Stone, Sid G. Coleman, and w. F.
Rembert, and was valued at $25, 900. She was
fully insured The cotton was insured in To-
cal companies for $25 900.
Mrs. Rembert and three children lived in
Demopolis, Ala, which is w. E. Remberts
home and also the home Of julie Rembert.
Before making the last trip Mr.. Rembert
three children at Demopolis and make
the trip up to the highest landing and
return. 1t is supposed that he invited also
his cousin, julie Rembert, and his two chill
dren, and it was intended to be pleasure trip
for the party. The negroes who lost their lives
were deck hands from Mobile, and most Of
them leave families.
Three Children Burned to Death.
The Wood place, about one mile south Of
Mariana, Ark, was the scene Of ON unfort-
date catastrophe on Sunday night
About 8 o'clock the cabin occupied
and his family, consisting of his wife and
three children-boys-aged three, nine and
fourteen years-caught fire. The family,
with the exception of the wife, who was at
tending a church near town, had retired.
Burton was awakened by portion Of the
blazing roof falling on the bed in which he was
sleeping, setting that on fire. He Immediately
jumped up and seized his three children, who
were sleeping in the same room, and started
for the door. Before he could reach it another
portion of the roof fell in, knocking his chill
dren from his grasp. He was unable to find
them again, and had to abandon them to save
himself, which he did by jumping out of win.
dow. The boys partially buried by the roof
were burned to death. The fire is supposed
to have originated from the chimney, which
was one of the old fashioned wood and mud
kind and much out OF repair.
Buying an Immense Tract Of Land.
The Interstate Land Company, an organi'
ration with headquarters in Kansas City, MO-,
has completed the purchased of the Arkansas
land grant, comprising 79,OOO, 600 acres, stu.
ated in Texas, New Mexico and Colorado, and
including portion of No Mans Land and oil
of the famous Maxwell grant The purchase
Is made from the Exterior Real Estate, the
title having come originally from the Mexi'
can Government in 1926. The price of pur'
chase is not made public. The company pro
poses to give quit claims to settlers now on
the land on application, but will require for:
eigners and corporations to settle. The legal
opinions Of eminent authority have been OBJ
tained upon the title. This is the largest pri.
vate land purchase ever made in the United
States. The tract purchased is nearly hall
as big as the entire State Of Texas.